News
Home insurance premiums tick down in Q1 – ABI
Household property premiums fell in the first quarter of the year, the fourth drop in a row according to the Association of British Insurers.
Biba recruits ‘great match’ Maxwell as Northern regional manager
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has appointed Lesley Maxwell as regional manager for the North.
UGL unveils Zurich-backed landlords product
Midas, part of Uris Group, has launched a residential landlords proposition Midas Let Property.
FCA launches probe of claims management companies
The Financial Conduct Authority has launched a market review over worries that consumers are being failed by some claims management companies and law firms.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Aviva’s Michael Yabantu
Michael Yabantu, managing director of mid-market at Aviva, is keen to talk to brokers to work together to address the protection gap for customers and hints that the insurer’s Wednesday night event might have an element of Madness to it.
Flaxmans opens claims insight library for brokers, legal advisors and insurance practitioners
Flaxman Partners has launched The Flaxmans Library, offering insight into why claims fail and where misunderstandings arise in practice.
Aventum makes first MGA buy as it pushes into Continental Europe
Aventum has bought Rotterdam-headquartered specialist marine and logistics managing general agent Post & Co in its first ever MGA acquisition.
Dual expands social care proposition
Dual UK has enhanced its social care proposition providing cover for the operational and regulatory requirements of children’s homes and special education needs schools.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Axa’s Matt Field
Matt Field, partnerships director at Axa Insurance UK – retail, invites people to visit its van on the cobbled area next to the conference centre and warns against burn out by over-filling your diary with appointments.
Clear pushes on with MGA rebrands
Clear has rebranded Accelerate Underwriting as Shape Digital and Thomond Underwriting as Shape Underwriting Ireland in further changes to its managing general agents division.
Broker Direct teams up with Chinese insurer for property product suite launch
Broker Direct has partnered with China Taiping to provide property insurance products designed with brokers in mind.
CII adds two executive directors to leadership team
The Chartered Insurance Institute Group has appointed Ben Turner as executive director of member engagement and Will Holt as executive director of learning.
MoneySuperMarket grows ChatGPT app with home and pet insurance
Price comparison service MoneySuperMarket has added home and pet insurance products directly in its ChatGPT app.
Aviva makes third acquisition in three years buying long standing partner
Aviva has acquired DisasterCare Group in a move that it believes will strengthen its disaster recovery and restoration capability, as well as support a quicker end-to-end property claims process for customers, brokers and partners.
People Moves: 27 April – 1 May 2026
Stay in the loop with the latest insurance personnel moves.
Biba 2026 Countdown: QuestGates’ Dave Clare
Dave Clare, operations director - building consultancy division of QuestGates, highlights the importance of getting the fundamentals right and raises the possibility of doing a turn singing My Way dressed as a calculator.
Open GI looks to Barnard from Aviva to succeed Badley as CEO
Open GI has appointed James Barnard from Aviva to succeed Simon Badley as group CEO, with the change scheduled “over the course” of the second half of the year.
Motor premiums remained stable in Q1 – ABI
The average motor premium held steady in the first quarter of 2026 at £560, just 0.2% up on Q4 2025, the Association of British Insurers has calculated.
Optio builds real estate capacity to £100m
Specialty managing general agent Optio Group has struck a capacity deal for its real estate product, increasing its total sum insured binding authority from £60m to £100m.
Broker growth optimism rises to new heights
Brokers are increasingly optimistic about growth, with regional players leading the way according to a survey by Aviva.
Biba 2026 Countdown: CyberCube’s Nate Brink
Nate Brink, head of broker sales and account management at CyberCube, is flying in from Michigan to attend his first ever Biba Conference and is looking forward to savouring a local curry and gaining valuable insights in the coffee queues.
Covéa bolsters personal lines leadership with McCann and Midgley in new roles
Covéa Insurance has created two new roles, adding Jamie McCann as head of personal lines and promoting Jade Midgley to head of trading for personal lines.
Allianz revamps commercial management as Nick Hobbs exits after 25 years
Nick Hobbs is to leave Allianz UK after 25 years with the insurer, stepping down from his roles as chief distribution officer and chairman of Allianz Engineering Inspection Services.
Insurance complaints up 10% but stay below recent highs
Complaints about insurance and protection rose 10.1% in the second half of last year, the only product group to post an increase.